Container body having a side seam



Feb. 26, 1963 w. KUCHENBECKER 3,079,059

CONTAINER BODY HAVING A SIDE SEAM Filed NOV. 16, 1959 INVENTOR;

MORE/5 w. KUU/[A/EfC/(f/Q 4? I,

v MM. w if i A? 42 ATTOR/VfKj United States Patent O 3,079,659 CONTALJER BODY HAVENG A SIDE EAM Morris W. Kuchenbecker, Neenah, Wis., assiguor to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Nov. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 853,143 1 Claim. (Ql. 229--14) The present invention relates to a body and a unitary blank therefor for a self-sustaining container having a protective lining and has particular reference to the side seam of the body and the method of producing the same.

The invention contemplates the production of a fibre sheet material body having a protective liner for a container adapted to hold liquid products such as milk, fruit juices, etc.

An object of the invention is to provide a container body having a side seam which encloses and protects the inner raw edge of the body against contamination and wicking.

Another object is to provide such a container body having a lapped side seam with a crease line extending longitudinally completely along the outer lap to facilitate temporary outward bending of the free body Wall outer lap during the formation of the seam thereby separating the outer lap from its liner sheet marginal edge portion and permitting the inner lap and its liner sheet marginal portion to be positioned therebetween.

Another object is to provide a method of producing the side seam of the body.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container body embodying the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the side seam corner of a rectangular body as taken substantially alonga plane indicated by the lines 22 in FIG. 1, with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified form of the invention as adapted to a cylindrical body;

FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view showing a unitary blank and a liner before assembly to produce the container body shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the blank and e liner after assembly as taken substantially along a plane indicated by the lines 5-5 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing how the side seam of the body is produced.

As a preferred and exemplary embodiment of the instant invention, the drawings illustrate a substantially rectangular lined container body 11 (FIG. 1) made from a unitary blank 12 (FIG. 4) of generally rectangular configuration and a corresponding liner 13 attached to the blank. The blank 12 preferably is made from a relatively heavy, self-sustaining paper board, while the liner 13 preferably is made from a relatively thin moistureproofed paper material, although the invention is equally well adapted to bodies and liners made of other material, such as metallic, sheet metal, plastics, etc.

The blank 12 (FIG. 4) is suitably scored or creased along transverse lines 21, 22, 23, 24 to divide it into four integral and hingedly connected side walls 26, 27, 28, 29 to produce the body 11 shown in FIG. 1. A glue flap 31 is provided along one edge of the side wall 29 and is hingedly connected thereto along the crease line 24.

The liner 13 preferably covers the entire inner face of 3,979,059 Patented Feb. 26, 1 963 the blank 12 including the glue flap 31 and preferably is adhesively secured to the entire face of the blank, including the glue flap 31 but excluding a side seam marginal edge portion 34 of the side wall 26, thus providing a liner flap 35 having a width slightly greater than the width of the glue flap 31, free from the side wall 26.

The container body 11 (FIG. 1) produced from such a lined blank 12, includes the four side Walls 26, 27, 28, 29 and a novel side seam 37 which holds the body together. In the side seam 37, the glue flap 31 and the adjacent portion of the liner 13 adhesively secured thereto are sandwiched or interposed between the marginal edge portion 34 of the body side wall 26 and the adjacent free liner flap 35 as best shown in FIG. 2. In this sandwiched relation the side seam marginal edge portion 34 of the body side wall 26 overlaps and is adhesively secured to the outer face of the glue flap 31 and the liner flap 35 or" the body side wall 26 overlaps and is adhesively secured to the inner face of the portion of the liner 13 adhesively secured to the glue flap 31.

' Thus there is provided a strong lap side seam for the body, in which the side seam marginal edge portions of the blank are secured together in overlapping relation and in which the side seam marginal edge portions of the liner are in overlapping relation in the same seam. Such a side seam results in the raw inner edge of the body glue flap 31 being enclosed in a pocket between the outer body wall 26 and its liner flap 35 and thereby protects this edge of the body from exposure to the contents of a container which includes such a body.

In container bodies made from paper or other fibrous materials, the protection of this inner side seam edge of the material is important to overcome wicking and thus failure of the body, when such a body is used in a container for liquid products and the like.

In metallic, sheet metal or other material bodies, the protection of the inner raw edge of the body thus prevents corrosion and other contamination of this portion of the body, with the resultant protection of the container contents.

Where cylindrical bodies are to be produced as shown in FIG. 3, the side seam construction is substantially the same as in the rectangular shaped bodies. The only difference is that the crease lines for folding the body are dispensed with.

In the method of producing such a body 11 and its side seam 37, the blank 12, where necessary, is first provided with its transverse crease lines 21, 22, 23, 24 to provide for folding the blank into body form. Where the blank is to be used for a cylindrical body, this creasing of the blank is eliminated. In any event for rectangular or for cylindrical bodies, a crease line 41 is provided in the body wall in the side seam outer lap marginal edge portion 34 of the body blank. This crease line 41 preferably is parallel with the terminal edge of side seam edge portion 34 and is spaced inwardly from this edge a distance less than the Width of the glue flap 31.

Following this formation of the crease line 41, the liner sheet 13 is provided and is secured to the inner face of the body blank 12 preferably by a suitable adhesive 42. The adhesive 42 may cover the entire blank 12 except the outer lap marginal edge portion 34 or may be spot tacked if desired. In any event the liner flap 35 is left free from or unsecured to the blank outer lap portion 34 as best shown in FIG. 5.

With the body blank 12 in this lined condition, the blank is formed into body shape and the outer lap portion 34 and the inner lap portion or glue flap 31 are brought together to form the side seam 37. As shown in FIG. 6 the formation of the side seam 37 is first effected by bending the outer lap portion 34 outwardly along the 3 crease line 41 to separate the portion 34 from the liner flap 35. The lined glue flap 31 is then inserted into position between the liner flap 35 and the bent back outer lap portion 34. When the lined glue flap 31 is in fully inserted position, the bent out lap portion 34 is bent back into place and pressed tightly against the glue flap to, adhesively bond. the liner flap 35, the lined glue flap 31 and the outer lap portion 34 together to produce the side seanr 37 with the lined glue-flap 31 interposed or sand- Wiched between the liner flap 35 and the: outer lap portion Suitable adhesive to effect this bonding action may be applied: to-the lined glue flap 3-1; or to'the liner flap, 35- and the outer lap portion 34 prior. to the sandwiching ofthese parts.

'IIheresulting side seam: 37 thus includes the crease line 41, with the-crease line backed-up by the glue-flap 31 and spaced away from the enclosediedge of theglue'flap'in the seam as shown FIGS. 2 and 3-. In this position the creaseline 41 is separated from theedge ofithe glue fl'ap so. as to eliminate any weakening of the body; side. wall throughbending; of the outer lapportion 34'along; the crease line 4:1.- This preserves the original: strength of the body side Wall adjacent the edgeof' the seam and' thus insures the provision of astrong body,

It! is thought thatthe inventionandmanyofi itsattendantadv-antages will lee-understood from the foregoing de scription,, andit will" be apparent that various changes may: be made in the form; construction" and arrangement of: the parts and that changes may be made-in" the steps ofv themethod described and their order: of accomplishe them without: departing from the: spirit and scope of the inventionaorsacrificingrallof its material advanta'ges; the form -hereinbefore-describedbeingmerely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I-'claim:

tubulan fibrous container body comprising an" outer body wall of relatively heavy sheet material having its opposed marginal edges overlapped and adhesively secured together in a lapped side seam extending longitudinally throughout said body, and a relatively thin liner sheet of moistureproof material adhesively secured to the inner surface of said tubular body, said liner sheethaving one marginal edge portion adhesively secured to the inner lap of said side seam and having its opposed marginal edge portion free of attachment to the outer lap of said side seam and enclosing said innerlap including the terminal edge thereof-' and" of: its secured liner sheet marginal portion, said free marginal edge portion of said liner sheet also; being adhesively secured to the aforesaid marginal edge portion ofthe liner sheet on said inner lap, said side seam having a continuous crease line extending longitudinally completely along the outer lap, said crease. line being disposed between the terminal edges of said adhesivelysecured outer and inner laps of s'aidside seam thereby being: backed upby said inner side seam lap; said crease line facilitating temporary outward bending of said free body wall outer lap during the formation of saidseamwhereby said outer lap and its liner sheet marginal" edge portion are readily. separated and said inner lap'and its-liner sheet marginaledge portion posi-' tioned therebetween.

References Cited-in the file of thispatent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 119473664 S taude Feb. 20, 1934 2,412,547 Waters Dec. 10,1946 23423 804" Waters July 8,; 1947 2430j61l) Guyer Nov. 11, 1947 2,432,052" Waters Dec. 2 1947 214321054 Waters Dec. 2, 1947 2,453,313 Ringler Mar. 1,.1949 2,764,069 Guyer Sept. 25, 19 56 

